River Niger, that is! Because while the dredged river will allow for cargo ships and boats to reach some northern states such as Niger state, the neglected bridge will impact the commerce of the Igbo area of Nigeria. Yet an Igbo woman is the titular Minister of transportation but without the needed clout to effect any Nigeria state policy? The Nigeria government on December 1st, 2008 signed a N34.8 billion naira contract for the dredging of the River Niger along its lower 572km stretch from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger State. Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government, said the project was divided into five sections and awarded to five different contracting firms to ensure that they were completed within the stipulated time. The duration of the completion of the project is one year while a two year maintenance agreement has also been signed between the government and the contractors. The dredging will allow for hauling of heavy tonnage of goods along the river course to the northern part of the country.
Icheokudotcom says that what is happening to the Igbo area of Nigeria now calls for a mass action. How is it that a bridge over the same River Niger which has been in contemplation all these years cannot be equally awarded with the same zeal and passion as this inland dredging of the same river? If the Biafran war is not yet over in the psyche of the Nigerian authorities, let them say so, that the Igbo will know their true position in Nigeria. It is indeed very shameful that this blatant discrimination and crass nepotism is taking place in the 21st century Nigeria where a vital bridge of commerce is being neglected because of hatred for the people who principally inhabit the area of the country which the bridge will mainly serve! Icheokudotcom says, ENOUGH of this bullshit by the Hausa-Fulani Oligarchs in Nigeria! Or whose country is Nigeria, anyway?
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Christy 'Apena' Essien-Igbokwe , the wife of Jegede Shokoya of the New Masquerade and Nigeria's lady of songs is dead; she was 51years old. Although her family claimed that "brief Illness" killed her like so many Nigerians; Icheoku retorts that it was most likely AKwa Ibom voodoo and remote control that was used to arrest her. It is on record that she had fallen out with the governor of her native Akwa Ibiom State and have been having a relentless war for political turf with the governor? So who knows whether she was sacrificed to Ekpe cult or even Alusi-Okija as an offal; afterall African science is still very much alive and portent. May her soul rest in peace.
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Nigeria: Niger Bridge Might Collapse Before Dec 2008
ReplyDeleteBeatrice Onuchukwu
9 November 2008
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Awka — The officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration officials of Anambra state government, have inspected the ailing Niger river bridge which is now giving Nigerians so much concern following the announcement by experts that the bridge may collapse before the end of this year if the Federal Government fails to act quickly.
Although the second Niger bridge is supposed to be a joint project between the Anambra, Delta state and Federal governments, as well as the private sector, the initial arrangement was that the contractor would source 60 percent of the cost of the project, Anambra and Delta states would provide 10 percent, while the Federal government would provide 20 percent.
Information revealed that NEMA's visit might ginger the federal authorities to begin the repairs immediately so as to avoid any ugly embarrassment.
The bridge, built in the 1960s, suffered a major destruction during the Nigerian civil war when it was bombed. It was however repaired after the war but since then, fears were being expressed that the effect of the destruction was still noticeable.
Setraco Construction Company Nigeria Ltd has been maintaining and repairing the bridge in the past two years and fears have started increasing that it might not survive the pressure of the expected increase in traffic especially during this Christmas period which is fast approaching.
Technical manager of Setraco, Mr. Elid Sheidid, had said that apart from the weakness of the bridge itself, there is a threat of gully erosion at the foot of the bridge at the Asaba end which is dangerously exposing the pillars.
That was the reason why former President Olusegun Obasanjo, shortly before he left office, suggested a second Niger bridge took.
But when the Senator Julius Ucha -led Committee on Works visited Anambra State on September 24, this year, it was discovered that the then federal government did not award any contract for the construction of the bridge before leaving office.
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The committee had also invited officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractor to inspect and explain the position of the bridge. Before then, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State had described the alleged contract as a big fraud, which according to him, existed only in the imagination of the then federal government. Obi said, "if you award a contract, you mobilise the contractor. In this case, nothing of such was done and that is why nothing is happening there. We want this bridge to be built and we are prepared to meet whatever conditions are required to ensure the realisation of the project."
NEMA assures on Niger Bridge safety
ReplyDeleteWritten by VANGUARD
Friday, 12 December 2008
Abuja—Nigerians have been told not to entertain any fear about using the Niger Bridge, Onitsha, as necessary repairs have been carried out to fortify it. AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) made the statement yesterday in an interview in Abuja.
The DG said that he visited the bridge in November with officials of the Ministry of Works to investigate its condition.
“Contrary to speculations that the bridge is about to collapse, the bridge is still strong, and there was no significant damage on it.
“However, the contractor has done some ground work and carried out necessary repairs on some minor faults discovered, and the bridge is strong now,’’ he said.
He called on motorists, especially those who would use the bridge during the Christmas and New Year festivals, not to entertain any fear, adding that the bridge was still very strong.
He also said that work on the proposed second bridge across the River Niger would soon start. “The contract has been awarded and work will soon begin on the site,’’ he said.
Niger Bridge Won't Collapse, NEMA Assures Travellers
ReplyDeleteBy Alex Emeje, Snr Correspondent, Abuja
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has assured travellers during the yuletide that the old Niger Bridge in Onitsha, a gateway to the South Eastern parts of the country, will not collapse as being speculated.
Director-General of NEMA, Mohammed Audu-Bida, said necessary actions have been taken by government to ensure the safety of commuters, especially during this yuletide.
He disclosed this during an assessment of level of preparedness of the combined security networks that have been deployed to mount surveillance and protect lives and properties during the exercise.
In a statement, the agency said it is spearheading "Operation Eagleye", a joint effort of security agencies in the country in providing adequate security on major highways to control traffics and combat criminal activities throughout the yuletide period.
He said the reason for the maximum security alert at this period was influenced by past experiences of high road accidents and increased rate of criminalities during such festivities.
Audu-Bida added that heavy penalties await offenders who fail to observe strict lane discipline, over speeding, overload, obstruction of traffics, indiscriminate use of firecrackers and acts that threaten human lives and security of the country.
He enjoined Nigerians to avoid actions that can ruin their life. According to him, "as 2009 is just around the corner, we should avoid recklessness that may deny us the joy of witnessing the New Year.
"All the security agencies are collaborating and on full alert to deal ruthlessly with undesirable elements who may foment trouble. "
Anambra, Delta Pull Out Of Second Niger Bridge Project
ReplyDeleteBy Okey Maduforo, Correspondent, Awka
Anambra and Delta States have backed out of the second Niger Bridge project, valued at N10 billion, although the Federal Government has put on the table its N4.3 billion counterpart funding.
Both states were to contribute N6.7 billion.
Senate Works Committee Chairman, Julius Ucha, said Anambra and Delta argued that they were forced into the deal by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, whereas they have not even one kobo to contribute.
The Committee once visited the old Niger Bridge at the Onitsha end where it expressed displeasure over its rehabilitation and queried the contract award.
During the inspection, Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, noted that "the traffic on it is too heavy and worrisome. Even truck drivers complain to us about its vibration.
"The second Niger bridge is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in which Anambra and Delta States are supposed to contribute 10 per cent each, the Federal Government 20 per cent, and 50 per cent borrowed by the contractor.
"We commenced a meeting between the three governments. The last meeting was held over a year ago. So they can't be doing meeting without inviting us when we have paid 10 per cent. That will amount to a fraud.
"How can they say that they have awarded the contract when we have not been attending meetings and nobody has ever invited us. What they did is a fraud.
"If you flag off a contract you award it and mobilise the contractor. If you go to the site now there is nothing there. We want the bridge to be built and we are prepared at any condition to build this bridge."
The reported missing of the documents on the bridge is described by Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a deliberate attempt to frustrate the development of the South East.
Ohanaeze President General, Dozie Ikedife, said the project was singled out because questions were raised about sharp practices.
"This is indeed an act of sabotage," he maintained.
"Have they lost the contract files of Ajaokuta Steel, have they lost the contract documents of Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road dualisation? What has happened to the Maduguri International Airport project? You cannot tell me that the documents are only one copy. It should be more than one copy.
"It is also ridiculous that a contract of this nature would have its papers missing. Are the Ministry of Works and Transport telling us that the papers grew wings and fled out of the window?
"Simply because we have started asking questions, some persons or group of persons went and removed the papers. Why must it be contracts or projects that concern people from this part of the country?
"Since the end of the civil war, we have struggled to rediscover ourselves in all sectors of life and some people who are apprehensive of this growth are also not happy that we are getting a second Niger Bridge.
"We in Ohanaeze insist on a full scale probe of what happened and those behind it should be brought to book. It should not be treated like one of those things because it does not affect them and their people."
FG assures on 2nd Niger Bridge project
ReplyDeleteFrom ANDY ELEREWE, Abuja
Thursday, February 5, 2009
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Federal Government will proceed with the execution of the second Niger Bridge project under the Public Private Partnership arrangement regardless of the withdrawal of the Delta and Anambra state governments from the project.
Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Hassan Muhammad Lawal, made this assurance at the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Works on the project.
He stated that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the award of the contract, and that the Debt Management Office (DMO) was in the process of vetting the contract documents preparatory to signing by the two parties when the two state governments announced their withdrawal.
He disclosed that notwithstanding that development, the Federal Government 2009 budget had captured the project, and that given the viability and bank-ability of the project, many private investors will jump at the opportunity to partake if eventually the two states indeed withdrew from the project.
“The Federal Government is making efforts to contact the two states to encourage them to claim their ten percent equities respectively. It is important to add that the project is consistent with President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s vision and plans to address the problem of infrastructure deficit in the country and provide succour to Nigerian roads’ users and the populace adjoining the bridge in the two states,” he said.
He disclosed that in the unlikely event of the two states refusing to proceed, the Federal Government would explore other options and proceed.
He assured that the project would not be stalled and that the project would commence as soon as practicable, even as he stated that the draft agreement was already in place and that any private investor partaking in the project will not lose anything.
Begin work on Niger Bridge —Gov. Orji tells FG
ReplyDeleteKALU OKWARA and UFOMBA UZUEGBU
OVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has appealed to the federal government to commence work on the collapsing River Niger Bridge before it leads to a national tragedy.
He said based on the strategic importance of the Niger Bridge to the nation, linking the 17 Southern states to the North, the dilapidating Bridge should be given the urgent attention it deserved.
Governor Orji who spoke yesterday in Lagos at an interactive session with newsmen, said the South East governors lacked the funds to carry out the repair of the Niger Bridge.
"The River Niger Bridge is strategic and important to not only the South East but the entire nation, being the linking route between the Southern and Northern states.
"But unfortunately, the South East governors lack the resources to reconstruct the Bridge and it is for that reason, we have been appealing to the federal government that has the capacity to rehabilitate the bridge to come and do it. We will keep appealing to the federal government without relenting," he said.
The Abia state governor who said that with the election litigations over, his administration was at present concerned with plans on how to take Abia State to the next level. He said about N6 billion had been committed to the rehabilitation of Aba-Owerri Road and Aba-Port Harcourt Road both in Aba in spite of the fact that both roads belonged to the federal government.
According to him, his administration decided to embark on the rehabilitation, having identified road construction/rehabilitation, refuse collection and clearing of culverts as the major problems of the town.
He said his administration through the public private partnership (PPP) engaged Geometrics Nigeria Ltd, owned by Prof. Barth Nnaji to build a power plant at Osisioma, Aba that would supply electricity to both commercial and domestic electricity consumers, stressing that the project would soon be commissioned.
According to him the Abia state government had revived the Umuahia Ceramics by involving the UCL that bought majority equity of the company which was commissioned a few weeks ago by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.
On kidnapping, he said the incident had drastically reduced, assuring Abia people and visitors that there was adequate security in the state.
He said Abia state is one of the few sates that offer free education from primary to secondary school, stressing that his administration had put in place a scholarship scheme to enable brilliant students to pursue their higher education without stress.
He called on Abia businessmen to come back to the state and invest, stressing that it was such investment that would bring about the development of the state as well as create job opportunities for the thousands of youths wo pass out out from tertiary institutions annually.
Second Niger Bridge contract not yet awarded – FG
ReplyDeleteBy Emmanuel Obe, Onitsha
Published: Wednesday, 6 May 2009
The Minister for Works, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Hassan Lawan, on Tuesday said that there was no existing contract for the construction of a second bridge over the River Niger at Onitsha.
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Minister of Works and Housing, Dr. Hassan Lawal
Lawan disclosed this while inspecting the existing Niger Bridge with the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi.
The Minister said that the various claims to the existence of a contract for the second Niger Bridge were made to deceive the people and reap political gains.
He said his investigations since he assumed duties four months ago, showed that there was no legal contract for the project.
But he said the absence of a contract did not diminish the need for a second bridge over the River Niger, especially as the 50-year-old first bridge has been overstretched.
He requested the Anambra and Delta states governments to partner with the Federal Government to start proper procedures for the project which he said was a national issue that affected Nigerians.
Obi recalled that his administration had made several representations and appeals to the Federal Government without any worthwhile response and wondered how any responsible government could flag off a project without awarding the contract.
He warned that the collapse of the present bridge would result in devastating socio-economic consequences and thanked President Umaru Yar’Adua for his concern and support which he noted, was a departure from the old order.
The Technical Director, SETRACO, the firm handling the maintenance of the project, Dr. Ray Chaudhuri, said the pillars of the bridge were being threatened by erosion as the river had changed course following non-dredging while some component parts of the bridge had been vandalised.
The minister also inspected collapsed spots on the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had towards the end of his administration, flagged off the controversial Second Niger Bridge Project.
Meanwhile, the minister has ordered the Abada Traders Association to stop work immediately on the building project beside the Niger Bridge, Onitsha.
Lawan handed down the order during an inspection tour of the area.
The minister said it was sheer irresponsibility for anybody to lease out the land for any reason considering its strategic proximity to the Niger Bridge, adding that the land belonged to the government.
He also said that the traders had been misled into entering the agreement saying nobody was be allowed to use the place for business because it was not safe and equally a threat to security.
On the claims by the lawyer representing the traders, Mr. Iloegbune Okoye, on how they secured the land, the minister expressed disappointment that somebody who was claiming to be a lawyer should be so unethical and undisciplined in his practice as to be misleading people to do the wrong thing, and stressed the need for legal practitioners to practice law the way it should.
Lawan said the traders were lucky to have a governor who was considerate and people-oriented enough to propose an alternative site for their building project and promised that the Federal and state governments would dialogue to sort things out.
In his remarks, Governor Obi said he had discussed the issue severally with the traders and had equally proposed an alternative and better site for them as all occupants from the bridge to the Upper-Iweka had been asked to vacate the area.
He noted that the traders were not only building without Certificate of Occupancy but also without approval of the building plan by the State Government. The Governor regretted that some lawyers were misleading the people into ruining the State.
Earlier the lawyer representing the traders, Mr. Okoye admitted that he was part of the several meetings initiated by the State Government to resolve the issue before they headed to court to obtain an injunction against the government.